ALONE AT THE TOP (5 OF 15)
by Keith Krell
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:7-16
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Alone at the Top (5 of 15)
Series: ''The Good Life''
Keith Krell
Ecclesiastes 4:7-16
Howard Hughes was worth 2.5 billion dollars at his death. In 1976 he was the richest man in the United States. He owned a private fleet of jets, hotels, and casinos. When asked to claim his body, his nearest relative, a distant cousin, exclaimed, ''Is this Mr. Hughes?'' Hughes had spent the last fifteen years of his life as a drug addict too weak in the end to even administer his own injections. His 6'4'' frame had shrunk to 6'1'' and he weighed only 90 lbs.
Not a single acquaintance or relative mourned his death. The only honor he received was a moment of silence in his Las Vegas casinos. Time magazine put it this way: ''Howard Hughes' death was commemorated in Las Vegas by a minute of silence. Casinos fell silent. Housewives stood uncomfortably clutching their paper cups full of coins at the slot machines, the blackjack games paused, and at the crap tables the stickmen cradled the dice in the crook of their wooden wands. Then a pit boss looked at his watch, leaned forward and whispered, 'O.K., roll the dice. He's had his minute.'''
''He's had his minute.'' What a tragic way to be remembered. What an awful legacy to leave behind. Yet, this fate belongs not only to Howard Hughes, but to all who become absorbed in wealth and work. Apparently, Hughes didn't have family and close friends, or he neglected those whom he did have. What a great reminder to beware of selfish individualism and the pursuit of wealth or you may find yourself like Hughes, alone at the top. Instead, why not recognize that working, by itself, is futile? Why not seek to cooperate with others? Don't be a solitary success. In Eccl 4:7-16 Solomon encourages us to make three specific choices that will help us avoid this fate and find meaning in this life.
1. Choose contentment over achievement (4:7-8). These verses remind us that riches and success never satisfy. Solomon writes: ''Then I looked aga ...
Series: ''The Good Life''
Keith Krell
Ecclesiastes 4:7-16
Howard Hughes was worth 2.5 billion dollars at his death. In 1976 he was the richest man in the United States. He owned a private fleet of jets, hotels, and casinos. When asked to claim his body, his nearest relative, a distant cousin, exclaimed, ''Is this Mr. Hughes?'' Hughes had spent the last fifteen years of his life as a drug addict too weak in the end to even administer his own injections. His 6'4'' frame had shrunk to 6'1'' and he weighed only 90 lbs.
Not a single acquaintance or relative mourned his death. The only honor he received was a moment of silence in his Las Vegas casinos. Time magazine put it this way: ''Howard Hughes' death was commemorated in Las Vegas by a minute of silence. Casinos fell silent. Housewives stood uncomfortably clutching their paper cups full of coins at the slot machines, the blackjack games paused, and at the crap tables the stickmen cradled the dice in the crook of their wooden wands. Then a pit boss looked at his watch, leaned forward and whispered, 'O.K., roll the dice. He's had his minute.'''
''He's had his minute.'' What a tragic way to be remembered. What an awful legacy to leave behind. Yet, this fate belongs not only to Howard Hughes, but to all who become absorbed in wealth and work. Apparently, Hughes didn't have family and close friends, or he neglected those whom he did have. What a great reminder to beware of selfish individualism and the pursuit of wealth or you may find yourself like Hughes, alone at the top. Instead, why not recognize that working, by itself, is futile? Why not seek to cooperate with others? Don't be a solitary success. In Eccl 4:7-16 Solomon encourages us to make three specific choices that will help us avoid this fate and find meaning in this life.
1. Choose contentment over achievement (4:7-8). These verses remind us that riches and success never satisfy. Solomon writes: ''Then I looked aga ...
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